Hartford Stage

Hartford Stage's mission is to enlighten, entertain, and educate by creating theatrical works of the highest caliber that have a transformative impact on their field, their audiences and their community.

About Hartford Stage

Founded in 1963 by Jacques Cartier, Hartford Stage began in a former grocery store warehouse on Kinsley Street. On April 1, 1964, Othello, directed by Cartier, opened the theatre, which quickly established itself as a major cultural resource for the region, producing seasons offering a range of works from Molière to Beckett to Genet. Paul Weidner, who assumed leadership of the theatre in 1968, oversaw its move to its present home-the 489-seat John W. Huntington Theatre, designed by renowned architect Robert Venturi. Weidner continued the theatre's dedication to both classic and contemporary works, as well as representing diverse communities with productions of Ray Aranha's My Sister My Sister and Miguel Pinero's Short Eyes, with its original cast of ex-convicts. Mark Lamos became Artistic Director in 1980, bringing international recognition to Hartford Stage during his seventeen seasons with explorations of the great works of dramatic literature, most notably the plays of Shakespeare, Molière, Ibsen and Schnitzler. In January 1998, Michael Wilson became the fourth artist to lead Hartford Stage, launching the Tennessee Williams Marathon, the annual production of A Christmas Carol, the annual Brand:NEW festival, and SummerStage. Darko Tresnjak became the fifth Artistic Director in July of 2011.

Transportation & Parking

Many patrons choose the MAT Garage, adjacent to Hartford Stage, to park their cars while attending a performance or event. Parking vouchers are for sale in the lobby prior to the show only.
Additionally the Church Street garage, located below the Hilton Hotel on Church Street, now accepts Hartford Stage parking vouchers.
Street parking in Hartford is free all day on Saturdays and Sundays and from 6 pm to 8 am Monday through Friday. On-street meters are strictly enforced from 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, including holidays.